Chapter 14: The Major Client

Several constables immediately spread out to the front and rear of the line, loudly commanding, “Everyone, quiet and line up. Anyone who causes a disturbance will be immediately arrested and taken to the patrol office!”

The townsfolk, seeing the officials arrive, quickly became much more obedient.

At that moment, a man shouted excitedly, “I won! Second prize! Second prize!”

Everyone looked at him enviously, secretly regretting their own lack of such good luck.

Zhang Yuan also felt quite envious and said, “No, I have to draw one too, see if the grand prize will come my way.”

“Brother Zhang, just draw one freely, no need to pay.”

“That won’t do, a few coins isn’t much.” He laughed, tossed eight coins into the money box, then walked over to the lottery box. After watching for a moment, he chose a large box on the left and pulled out a paper slip. Hopeful, he unfolded it—only to find it blank.

He shook his head in disappointment.

“Brother Zhang, that’s a consolation prize. You get to taste the five-spice peanuts for free.” Xiao Die understood immediately and placed a small handful of five-spice peanuts into his hand.

Zhang Yuan popped one into his mouth, surprised. “Hmm? This is delicious?!”

He returned to Lin Feng’s side. “Brother, where did you get these five-spice peanuts?”

Lin Feng smiled. “I came up with this new way of preparing peanuts myself.”

“I’ve never tasted peanuts like this before. They’re far better than the fried peanuts in restaurants. How much do you sell them for if bought alone?”

“Three hundred coins per pound.”

“So expensive?” Zhang Yuan clicked his tongue. “But peanuts are rare, and yours taste so good; that price is reasonable.”

“However, ordinary folks can’t afford them. Maybe in the county seat, but here in town, most customers are locals or farmers coming to market. There are many poor people; once they hear the price, they won’t dare to buy.”

Six Xi nearby remarked, “I see those who drew prizes are eating heartily.”

“Of course, free food tastes better, especially these five-spice peanuts. But it’s hard to get people to pay for them.”

Lin Feng laughed. “Actually, this consolation prize is just to let everyone know about the five-spice peanuts—an advertisement. Sooner or later, someone will want to buy them.”

Zhang Yuan was momentarily puzzled. “Advertisement? What’s that?”

“It’s… using various means to make people aware of something. The more who know, the more will buy naturally.”

He realized he’d better be careful with his words in the future—not to accidentally drop modern terms that would confuse people and require lengthy explanations.

“That method is indeed clever.”

At that moment, a plump woman, heavily made-up and adorned with jewelry, came sashaying over with two attendants, laughing coquettishly. “Hey! Isn’t this Brother Zhang? You’re here to try your luck too?”

“Can’t you see my men are maintaining order?”

“When are you coming to drink at my place? Little Apricot Blossom has mentioned you several times.”

Zhang Yuan glanced around and lowered his voice. “Enough with the ‘Little Apricot Blossom’ and ‘Little Trumpet Flower.’ Can you keep your voice down… If you keep this up, I’ll have you shut down!”

The plump woman giggled and rolled her eyes. “If I get shut down, you better arrange a good place for us…”

“Go wherever you want. You can’t escape your fate of lowly status, no matter where you go.” Zhang Yuan didn’t want to argue further and whispered to Lin Feng, “I’ll ask around some taverns and teahouses in town. Places like that will definitely have customers willing to buy your five-spice peanuts.”

Lin Feng picked up two small cloth bags filled with five-spice peanuts—special bags sewn by Tian Xi’er, each holding a pound—and whispered in his ear, “Since Brother Zhang is helping me ask around, I have to give them some to taste. The other bag is for you to snack on tonight.”

“Brother, you’re a straightforward man. Leave it to me!” Zhang Yuan happily slipped the bags into his sleeve and went to help his men maintain order.

The plump woman coquettishly asked, “Young master, are you selling these five-spice peanuts?”

It turned out she had come to buy them. From her conversation with Zhang Yuan, it was likely she was a brothel madam—a major client!

“Yes, of course! Sister, how much would you like?”

“Can they be stored for a long time?”

“As long as they’re kept in a dry, ventilated place, they’ll be fine for half a year.”

“How much per pound?”

“Three hundred coins.”

The plump woman pulled out a small silver ingot weighing five taels from her sleeve, smiling coquettishly. “Will five taels of silver buy twenty pounds? If customers like them, you can supply me regularly.”

“No problem!”

A customer like this couldn’t be missed.

Lin Feng immediately told Six Xi to bring twenty bags of peanuts. “One bag is exactly one pound. Sister, you can weigh them if you want.”

“I trust you…” the woman purred. “If you personally deliver next time, I’ll invite you for a drink.”

“No problem…”

She winked at Lin Feng, tossed her handkerchief, and said coquettishly, “My place is at Pear Fragrance Garden…” Then she sashayed away.

Lin Feng glanced at Xiao Die’s face, which had clouded over, and chose to ignore it. The girl was overthinking again.

Besides, he wasn’t going to explain. Even if he did go for a drink, so what? He wouldn’t do anything else—at most, he might ask a woman to sing a slightly risqué tune.

By the early evening, when the first watch had just begun, all the prizes had been drawn, including every single bamboo and straw craft Tian Xi’er had made—not a single one left.

More than six pounds of five-spice peanuts had been given away, showing how many people had participated in the lottery.

They had filled two large sacks with copper coins, and the group happily returned to the village.

Once back at the farmhouse, Lin Feng calculated the amount owed to the Tian family—just over eighty strings of coins. After tallying, he said to Tian Zhong, “Brother Tian, there are still two puppies and a kitten that weren’t taken to town to sell. I want to keep these three little ones. How much do I owe you?”

Keeping money at home was risky; if thieves came, what then? They needed two dogs to guard the house. Even if young and not very fierce, at least they would bark and raise an alarm.

The yellow tabby cat was an expert at catching mice. With grain stored at home, especially peanuts, mice were sure to come. They needed a cat to watch over things.

“Brother Lin, you helped us earn so much money, these three little ones are yours. They’re not worth much.”

“Thanks, Brother Tian.” Lin Feng said, “You keep the boxes, but they have two holes drilled in them. That’s fine, right?”

“The boxes are yours too. I’ll find some wood later and patch up the holes.” Tian Zhong looked at Tian Xi’er. “Let’s go, little sister.”

Tian Xi’er nodded. “Brother Lin, we’re heading back.”

She left the yard somewhat reluctantly, perhaps feeling that life spent with Lin Feng and the others that day was far more exciting.

At least it was much better than staying cooped up in the Tian family home.